392 
Lithoccylon yihietis, is said to be found less frequently in a petrified 
state than many other trees; at the same time that it has been 
found in a bituminous state, much more frequently than any other. 
But the supposed frequency of its occurrence, in a bituminous state, 
is very likely to exceed the fact ; since the high degree of inflamma- 
bility, which bituminous woods possess, has led to the suspicion, that 
all such woods, especially if their fibres ran straight, were of the fir 
or pine kind ; their inflammability being attributed to the resin, or 
turpentine, which they were supposed to contain. 
That they are frequently found in subterranean situations, in this 
island, is indubitable. Dr. Leigh, speaking of the subterranean 
trees found in several of the morasses in Lancashire, says*, “ Not 
only fir-stocks, but fir-apples, are likewise found in these morasses ; 
and these, I hope, gentlemen will allow me could not belong to 
any other tree, but to the fir : besides,, the grain of the wood, and 
the turpentine which upon burning drops from it, sufficiently de- 
monstrate it to be really fir.” 
Mr. Daines Barrington informs us, that he happened to see, near 
Loch Rannoch, and in other parts of the highlands of Scotland, 
subterraneous firs which had been lately dug up. On cutting 
them he found that they smelt strongly resinous, and he concluded 
that they were firs, the grain of the wood further warranting this 
opinion. The poor people, he observes, in those parts, use small 
pieces of this wood, instead of candles. He, therefore, thinks that 
there is little doubt that the fir was formerly an indigenous tree, 
in the northern parts of this island. Dr. Plot argues, that Ccesar, 
not having seen the northern parts of this island, where the pines 
most probably grew, might easily be mistaken in that, as well 
as with respect to the beech which he asserts was not in this 
island, though the contrary has been found to be the fact. Whilst 
* The Natural History of Lancashire, Cheshire, &c. by Charles Leigh, M.D. 1700, p. 59. 
